SL55 Power problem - anyone else suffered?

SL55 Power problem - anyone else suffered?

Author
Discussion

phatgixer

Original Poster:

4,988 posts

254 months

Wednesday 16th July 2003
quotequote all
When I really press on in the car, it gives the full Nascar violence for about 30 seconds, then, Ford Ka.... Almost as if the wastegate is stuck open, or it has dropped into a default get-you-home mode. No indications from the electronics or error messages from the console. Drive sedately for 5 minutes, and you get some performance back, but for a shorter period.

There is also a 'click' noise when I gently press the throttle at low speed that sounds like high pressured air being released, and I think this is new..

Also, the gearbox has clunked badly a few times too under full acceleration, and I wonder if the gremlin lives there? Lost drive completely once joing M42. Had to park up and restart to reset the 'box. Omigawd.

If I can't trace the problem, I'm going to have to replicate the problem with a M-B dealer service man in the car, but he will probably fill his pants!

Conspiracy theory rubbish --- Is the 500bhp just a momentary thing that is emasculated if you use it, but sells the car on the spec sheet....

superlightr

12,899 posts

268 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
just reading old posts.... did you find out the problem?

phatgixer

Original Poster:

4,988 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
Yes, eventually!

It took 4 visits to differing dealers to sort out.

It was traced to a faulty Auxiliary Supercharger Cooling Pump located behind the left hand side wheelarch. The charge temp sensor detected the heat build up and the ecu made the car go into limp mode, but never wrote to the error log.

Sorted and the car stormed.

phatgixer

Original Poster:

4,988 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
Oh, and the gearbox eventually cried enough and had to be replaced after 8 thousand miles (as did the Diff and various other bits..)

superlightr

12,899 posts

268 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
hmmmmm I had a lemon of an M5 and changed to a porker but should I be worried about a SL55amg and reliability?

I presume you can extend the warrenty with MB?

phatgixer

Original Poster:

4,988 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
No worries. Mine did 25k miles and was used hard. It did have a few niggles, but was definitely worth the aggro..

They come with 3 yrs warranty from the factory

trackdemon

12,256 posts

266 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
phatgixer said:
Mine did 25k miles and "was used hard"


Er, if the glowing disks on the 65 at VMAX are anything to go by, thats a supreme understatement is it not?

phatgixer

Original Poster:

4,988 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th January 2005
quotequote all
Shhhh!

Ahem.